Smith, Marie Read

BIOGHIST REQUIRED Marie Read Smith was an avid supporter of Benito Mussolini, the Italian dictator and leader of the National Fascist Party. Likely affiliated with the women's division of the No Foreign War Committee, she was staunchly opposed to American involvement in World War II. In 1938, she was granted a fellowship by Casa Italiana and Barnard College to study in Italy. While there, she had a brief encounter with Mussolini, which is the subject of the letter in this collection.

From the guide to the Marie Read Smith Papers, 1934-1938., (Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library)